Sean Dyche urges Everton team-mates to ease pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin has not scored for the relegation-threatened Toffees in 19 appearances stretching back to October
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Your support makes all the difference.Sean Dyche accepts pressure will continue to grow on Dominic Calvert-Lewin the longer his barren run continues.
But the Everton manager has reminded the rest of his goal-shy side it is not just the principle striker who needs to find the net.
Calvert-Lewin has not scored for the relegation-threatened Toffees in 19 appearances stretching back to October.
However, he is not the only Everton player struggling in front of goal with the team having struck just 27 times in 25 Premier League games this season. Only bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United have worse records.
“I think he knows where he’s at,” said Dyche of Calvert-Lewin. “There’s enough noise in football now.
“Do you think he’s thinking there’s no noise about him not scoring? I’m pretty sure he knows that.
“Whether fair or not, that’s strikers, isn’t it? That’s being a striker, that’s the reality of the role.
“But all strikers, I’m sure, want the adulation of being a striker and scoring goals.
“That’s part of the fuel that you’d have as a striker, that amazing feeling when you do score, especially at Goodison, because the crowd generally erupt.
“So I think they know the responsibility. That’s part of their role.
“Having said that, of course, it’s not just strikers’ responsibility to score goals.
“We want them to work, we want them to defend, we want them to do the hard yards for the team. So therefore we’ve got to pay that back with other people scoring.”
Conversely, in a difficult season, Dyche can take positives from his side’s strong defensive record.
Everton have conceded just 33 goals this term, a figure equalled or bettered only by the current top four.
Dyche said: “I’m pleased with that side of things and that’s the whole team. A lot is made about individuals in the back unit but I think we ask the players to defend from the front and I think they’re getting better at that.
“The tactical shape and understanding the side, I think has improved and then finding that balance for scoring goals – we know that’s the biggest part of the challenge – transitioning the chances we’re making into actual finishes and actual goals. That’s obviously still a work in progress.”
Everton, who clawed themselves out of the relegation zone on goal difference with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday, travel to seventh-placed Brighton on Saturday.
Everton claimed an impressive 5-1 win at the Amex Stadium as they battled against the drop last May.
Dyche said: “That was probably a hiccup in their season at that time. We made that happen, though, don’t get me wrong.
“It wasn’t because they weren’t playing well or they weren’t a good side, because they are a good side.
“They’ve shown again they’re a good outfit and the home record has been very good for a number of seasons.”
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